Fuse for projectiles



(No Model J. RAPP.

FUSE FOR PROJEGTILBS.

No. 493,735. Patented Mar. 21, 1893.

I 1 I 1 x UNITE STATES JOSEPH RAPP, OF AKRON, OHIO.

FUSE FOR PROJECTILES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 493,735, dated March21, 1893. Application filed July 16, 1892. Serial No.440,204. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concerm Be it known that I, JOSEPH RAPP, of Akron, inthe county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Fuses for Projectiles; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description'of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in fuses for projectiles; and itrelates more especially to the construction of a percussion-fuse adaptedto be inserted in the striking end of the projectile and communicatewith the explosive-chamber next adjacent.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly incentral section, of a projectile provided with my improvedpercussion-fuse and with the combination of fuses in the rear orbutt-end of the same. Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 exhibit component parts ofthe percussion-fuse separated; Figs. 2, 3, and 5 being elevations partlyin section, Fig.- 4 a perspective partly in section, and Fig. 6 anelevation.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the shell or casing of theprojectile, and a the explosive chamber.

B represents the casing of my improved percussion-fuse, the same beingscrew-threaded externally, as at B, said threaded portion being adaptedto engage a correspondingly screw-threaded perforation in the forward orstriking end of the casing of the projectile, as shown in Fig. 1. Theouter end of the casing of the percussion-fuse is provided with a head,as at B that is notched or recessed, as at B for accommodating theapplication of a wrench in inserting the percussion-fuse into theprojectile.

At the lower end casing 13 has an internal annular flange b that alfordsa seat for the receptacle 0 of a capsule, D, the bottom of receptacle 0having a centrally-located perforation, 0, adapted to be in openrelation with the explosive chamber of the projectile, perforation 0being less in size than the adjacent end of the frusto-conical shapedchamber din capsule D, which chamber is adapted to receive thefulminating or igniting material. The head of the casing of thepercussion-fuse is screw-threaded internally, as at b, for receiving thecorrespondingly externally screw-threaded bushing, E, and within casingB, between bushing E and capsule D is confined a coil-spring, G, that isadapted to act in the direction to hold the capsule to its seat.BushingE is perforated longitudinally in line with the chamber incapsule D, with the perforation screw-threaded, as at E, for receivingthe correspondingly externally screw-threaded pin H, the latterextending inside of bushing E and tapering to a point, as at H, insuitable proximity to capsule D; pin H, at its other or outer end,terminating in a head, H

I will here remark that the screw-threaded members of thepercussion-fuse are all threaded in the direction in which the cannon isrifled so that said members cannot possibly become loose but will ratherbe tightened during the travel of the projectile, and we will suppose inthe present instance that said members of the percussion-fuse arethreaded right-handed.

Upon the striking of the projectile, spring G, will, by its inertia, becompressed toward its outer or forward end, and the inertia ofreceptacle (J and its capsule D will throw the same forward, the capsulestriking the point of pin H, resulting in the ignition of thefulminating or igniting material in the capsule, and in turn ignitingthe explosive within the shell of the projectile, resulting in thebursting or explosion of the shell, the perforation in capsule D beingpreferably flaring, as at d, to facilitate the proper engagement of thecapsule with pin H.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a hollow shell having anexplosive chamber therein, of a percussive fuse for the forward orstriking end of the projectile, the same comprising a casing whichprojects and opens in the explosive chamber, a pin located centrallywithin the casing, a capsule seated at the inner end of said casing anda spring adapted to act in the direction to retain said capsule againstits seat, the arrangement of parts being such that upon the striking ofthe projectile the inertia of the spring will compress the same in thedirection away from the capsule and the latter by its inertia will bethrown against the point of the pin so as to result in the ignition IOOof the explosive material within the capsule, substantially as setforth.

2. A percussion-fuse for the forward or striking-end of a projectile,the same comprising a casing provided at its inner end with an internalflange, a receptacle seated upon said flange, a capsule within saidreceptacle, a pin located centrally of the fuse and a spring adapted toact in the direction to retain the capsule within its receptacle, saidcapsule having an open-ended frusto-conical chamber adapted to receivethe fulminating or igniting material,the bottom of thecapsule-receptacle having a central perforation in open relation with,but less in size than, the adjacent end of the aforesaid chamber in thecapsule, substantially as set forth.

3. A percussion-fuse for the forward or striking-end of a projectile,the same comprising the following elements:a casing adapted to berigidly secured within said end of the projectile, a capsule seated atthe inner end and a bushing rigidly secured within the outer end of thefuse, a pin extending through said bushing into said fuse, said pinsecured in the casing and a coil-spring located between the capsule andsaid bushing, the arrangement of parts being such that, upon thestriking of the projectile, the inertia of the spring will compress thesame against said bushing, and the capsule, by its inertia, will bethrown against the aforesaid pin,resulting in the ignition of thefulminating or explosive material within the capsule, substantially asset forth.

4. A percussion-fuse for the forward or striking-end of the projectileand comprising the following elements:a casing having an externallyscrew-threaded portion adapted to engage a correspondinglyscrew-threaded perforation in said end of the projectile, a capsuleseated at the inner end of the fuse, a bushing externally screw-threadedand engaging a correspondingly internally screwthreaded portion of thecasing of said fuse, a

pin extending through said bushing into the fuse and provided with anexternally-screwthreaded portion engaging a correspondinglyscrew-threaded perforation in the bushing, and a coil-spring locatedbetween the capsule and said bushing, the arrangement of parts beingsuch that,upon the striking of the projectile, the inertia of the springwill compress the same against said bushing, and the capsule, by itsinertia, will be thrown against the aforesaid pin, resulting in theignition of the fulminating or'explosive material within the capsule,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification,in the presence of twowitnesses, this 9th day of July, 1892.

JOSEPH RAPP.

Witnesses:

O. H. DORER, WARD HOOVER.

